THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 50

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By

Pasquin

MONDAY. January ?2. There will be four new acts at the Princess Theatre to-night. Pat Dconan is one of the featured newcomers. He is a singer of novel songs, and is said to be an artist of great charm and persuasiveness. Creighton, the juggler, was here some years ago, and was then acclaimed a first-rate: Wendy and Alphonse are a duo who specialise in light comedy and song, while Louise Duggan is a balladiste with a good repertoire of “heart” songs and a pleasing voice. The acts stopping over from last week are the English revue artist, Leyland Hodgson, the London talking comedians, Conway and Beerham, and that delightful comedian at rhe piano, Chas. E. Lawrence. This, and the Reece Sisters, and Slavin and Thompson, give a complete change of programme. Popular acts finishing on Saturday night were Vaughan, Potter and Hartwell, Marzon and Florence, the Braehans and Lola Stantonne. It appears now that Lawrence Grossmith will not be seen in Dunedin with “The Silver Fox.” The company was to return Wellington from Auckland on Sunday' to join the Moeraki for Sydney. Vera Pearce, the popular Australian artist, was at latest playing in the title of “Sinbad Ihe Sailor” at the Glasgow Theatre Royal. Mr E. J. Gravestoclc has made definite arrangements with Jean Gerardy. the famous cellist, to visit Australia, and New Zealand. M r Gerardy toured New Zealand some 20 years ago with remarkable success. After ten weeks of excellent business in Melbourne, “The Sentimental Bloke,” C. J. Dennis’s play based on his celebrated poem on “tough” life and “tough” romance was transferred to the Palace Theatre, .Sydney, where it immediately established itself as a first-class draw against many othergood attractions. Tile New Zealand season will commnee at Auckland on February 22. The re-appearance of M. Paderewski, who was Polish Prime Minister in 1919, s a pianist lias been hailed in the musical world as an event of the happiest promise. He has arranged a tour of the United States for the winter, and will give 60 concerts. F °r each performance he will receive £IOOO Mr Owen Nares has just created the character of Mark Sabre from the famous novel “If Winter Comes,” with the stage version of which he has started a tour In an interview with Edwin Dyke, published in the London Magazine, Mr Nares says: “The character of Mark Sabre is quite out of the ordinary, and presents a fascinating study. It will be a very difficult part to play, but I am looking forward to it keenly. Some readers of the book seem to think Mark would have been a little tiresome to live with, but I can understand the sneaking sympathy for his wife, whose worst fxult. after all, was that she was conventional. Of course, the book has achieved a phenomenal success, and I think the secret must be the great, humanity or the storv and of (he chief character.” Mr Allen Doone and his company are at present, appearing at, the Melbourne New Gaiety Theatre in “Lucky O’Shea.” The cost of producing “Sinbad the Sailor” bv J. Williamson just before the war was £8903, but in 1921 the first, expenditure unon ‘ The Babes in the W T ood” was nearly double that amount—£ls,oCo. Mrs Kendal, the famous actress, told the story of her early davs when she was entertained at the Hotel Cecil by the O. P. Club; “I was born at Cleethorpes,” she said, “when my mother was forty-eight- and my father fifty-five or fifty-six. I was then- twenty-second baby. Many of the babies died, but twelve lived. My brother, Tom Robertson, who. with Torn Archer and Tom Hood, founded the Savage Club, was a married man before I was born. The press still will call mv brother’s plays die ‘Bread and Butter’ school. That used to hurt me awfully when I was young, arid I have seen my mother cry about it; but I like it, to be called the Bread and Butter school now.” Speaking of her first stage appearance, Mrs Kendal said; “I was a blind bov in ‘Seven Poor Travellers.’ Directly I got on the stage I opened mv eyes and said. ‘Look at my new slinks P I didn’t wish the public to lose anything, and new shoes were not aji everyday occurrence. I need scarcely tell you I was not a success, and for a few years I retired from the profession. I am not writing a hook; nor have T lent my love letters," she added. Having been closed since August 8 when its owners, the Melville brothers, made m a quarrel which bad kept the Lyceum Theatre, Strand. London, shut, for lome months, the Princess Theatre. Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C., is to offered by auction. It is generally understood that the sale of ibis theatre, which was built for Messrs Walter ant! Frederick Melville, was a, condition of the renowal of their friendship. Mark Dn.lv, a popular member o f Mr Hugh J. Ward’s company of comedians, saw stirring times in Ireland when playing in the distracted comttry. In one pantomime season in Dublin a man was spot dead in the stalls one evening, and a week later one of the chorus girls, who neglected to observe the curfew regulations, was killed outside her lodgings. “I was only really frightened once, and that was in Bei-

fast, ’ says Mr Daly. “One evening I was startled by a woman’s scream. While I was wondering what had happened several other women yelled, and gradually the terrible cry was taken up by thousands of women. I was sure a wholesale massacre must be in progress in the lanes and alleys of the cily, but on noticing that people in the street near rny hotel were apparently unmoved, my fears were somewhat calmed. On inquiry I found that the cry was actually a signal sent out by the women to the men folk, warning them that a man-hunt was in progress, so that they could take to cover.” Claude Dampier and Helen Attengoro were at latest appearing in Adelaide. Ena Dale, the London musical comedy actress, who made her debut in “The O’Brien Girl” at the Princess Theatre on Boxing Night, is greatly taken with Melbourne and its progressive spirit. ‘ Someone told me 1 should find Australians very much behind the times,” she said. “My observations have found the contrary to be the case. As a matter of sheer fact, in some things Melbourne is ahead of London. Your women are up-to-date dressers; your picture show managers are far more enterprising than are those of the London cinemas; your large shops are an eyeopener. and your tea-room is the most charming place I have been in. One Melbourne tea-room is far ahead of anychmg we have in the West End of London for dainty decoration and perfect services. If anybody ever again tells me that Australians are slow and out of date I shall have some solid facts to the contrary to hurl at them.” Mr Rock Phillips, the doyen of theatre property masters, is severing liis connection with the firm of J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) aiter 36 years of loyal service. He is joining the Hugh Ward-Fuller enterprises. How many oversea stars have passed through the now historic theatre since Mr Phillips first became associated with it few outside the magic circle can remember; but there are some names that can never be forgotten. Sarah Bernhardt, now making what may be a last and gallant fight to ward off the grim spectre, was one whose memory must live for years because of her charming personality and wonderful artistry. Strangely enough she was followed by another who outlived his popularity in a few nights. John L. Sullivan, the heavy-weight champion, essayed a season of “Honest Hearts and Willing Hands,” a,nd went the way of all of his kind in about seven days. Followed Margaret Anglin, William Rignold, Laura Villiers, Nelson Decker and his wife, the Majeronis, J. O. Williamson himself in “La Cigale,” Tittel Brune, Cuyler iiasrings, Thomas Kingston, Tyrone Power, Wilson Barrett, Edit'h Crane, H. B. Irving, a Gaiety Company, which included Teddy Lonnen and Alice Lethbridge. It was during the season of the J. O. Williamson Company at Her Majesty’s that the late George Lauri made his first appearance in Sydney in the musical play “Marjorie.” He was a general favourite witti those behind the scenes. Sir Charles Hawtrey was in fine form at the animal dinner of the Eccentric Club. He told a particularly good story about George Edwardes’ most remarkable victory on the turf with. Santoi. Edwardes was never known to broadcast racing tips amongst his friends, and grew very weary of the chorus, “I wish you given me the word, George.” The thousand and first man who congratulated him on the result of the race said, “I am very glad, George, for your sake.” Edwardes, who hid away a good store of cynicism, said, “You know, I am very glad, too —for the sake of the horse.” WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. fßy Peteb Pan.l January 26. Dear “Pasquin,”—-Miss Lee White and her clever company finish a splendid season at the Grand Opera House to-night. The company’s second offering “A Girl for a Boy” was a niore pretentious one than “Bran Pie,” having a little more coherent plot, and it met with much approval. Miss White and her partner, Clay Smith, are most generous in their contributions to the programme; but, even so, the audience never tires of them. You may anticipate some merry hours with this bunch of artists. Miss White and her husband are just as charming off the stage as on. Mr Scott Colville, who was confined to his bed 'here for several days owing to illness, is up and about again, and will probably join (he “Bran Pie” Company Walter Monk is the advance representative for this company. Mr “Will” Douglas, general manager in Australia for the Fullers, left for the sotuh this evening, en route to the Bluff to join the Moeraki for Melbourne. To-morrow night “A Night Ou.f,” with Maude Fane and Billy Percy as the stars, will commence its season here. There are rumours that we are to have another vaudeville house in tins city.